ArcaMax

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am appalled at the current practice on TV home decor shows of placing books with their titles to the wall. It is a huge fad.

I keep waiting for one of the hosts to realize that anyone who actually might read a book would walk into that home and assume the people who live there don't know what a book is for. Your opinion?

...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband was invited to go out of town for a "boys weekend" with a couple of his old friends. When he arrived, he was greeted not only by his friends, but also their wives.

Our kids called him several hours after he had arrived, and that is when I discovered that the "boys weekend" was actually a couples' weekend -- sans me...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How can you be responsible for ghosting someone when they never write to you?

Just because I have decided to accept their silence, and return it to them, doesn't mean I don't care. But what is the proper way to say goodbye? It actually seems worse to do it formally.

GENTLE READER: Tell the friend/spouse/child who is goading ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My birthday is a few days after the new year. It's a very easy date to miss altogether in the shadow of December and New Year's celebrations. Growing up, I often received "combo" holiday and birthday presents. I was taught to thank relatives and friends and not complain that it "wasn't fair."

Nowadays, an e-card can be ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Why is it that people see it as mandatory to send a thank-you for a gift? It seems like people give gifts with the sole purpose of being appreciated. This seems contrary to the whole idea of giving a gift.

To explain further, let me tell you how I give gifts. I have a large family that is pretty far-flung. Some years I'm in ...Read more